Strength in Numbers: How it feels to be 19

In this series, “How it feels to be…” I interview humans at different ages and stages of life. In this episode, I interview my 19-year-old sister about how it feels to be Alexa Morin. We are sitting across one another with puzzle pieces laid out on the table before us. Alexa is wearing a white basketball T-shirt and gray shorts. Her long brown hair is tied up in a bun and she has a bright blue mud mask slathered on her face.

“I’m not going to smile, it’ll crack my mud mask.”

What is making you happy right now?

The new fuzzy blanket on my bed. It’s white. It feels like sheep’s wool.

What is bothering you?

My skin, I have acne.

Tell me a happy memory.

I liked taking pictures with you at the Ashley Reservoir. That was a recent happy memory.

When’s the last time you received an unexpected nice gesture?

At the basketball camp, all the men there were military. I had nice gestures given to me all week. They called me ma’am and helped me fill up my water bottle. Regular men aren’t as nice as these Norwich babies.

What is something small that you regret?

There’s so many things. I just had a flood of thousands of different instances that made me cringe. I’m going to sound so shallow are you ready? I regret buying all those clothes from TJMaxx that were obviously too small for me but I bought anyway and now they’re sitting in my drawer.

What is something big that you regret?

I didn’t consider the cost of colleges when I was looking at them. My school costs $62,000 a year but we’re paying $50,000 a year.

What do you wish you did more of?

I wish I spent more time outdoors.

What do you wish you did less of?

Talking.

What frightens you?

Generically, I hate small spaces. I’m very claustrophobic. My big fear is not getting a job out of college. That’s very scary to think about.

What are you looking forward to in the near future?

I’m looking forward to reading my new book I just started. It’s about… Do you really want to know what it’s about? It’s about the lynching that ended the KKK. Poli-sci degree, you have to stay informed.

When you imagine yourself in your head, how old are you?

When I picture myself in my head I see that picture of me on top of Monument Mountain with cameo cargo shorts and my tight tan T-shirt. I’m in fifth grade. I’m happy.